5 Tips for Painting Your Motorcycle’s Plastic Parts
Your motorcycle is an expression of yourself, whether you have a cruiser or a sportbike. After you buy your bike, you may want to add some personalization to it by painting its plastic parts. This is a great way to transform your motorcycle from a generic, off-the-lot bike to a ride that fits your style. Cycle Trader is here to help with five tips for painting your motorcycle’s plastic parts.
1. Remove the Parts
To start, remove the plastic parts you want to paint from the motorcycle and put them in an open space. If you’re painting your bike’s plastic fairings, unscrew any bolts that attach the fairings to the body of your motorcycle to remove them. You’ll also want to cover any bolt threads or holes on your motorcycle’s other plastic parts that you plan on painting. You can use masking tape to easily do this.
2. Prepare the Surface
The quality of your paint job will depend on how well you prepare the plastic surface before painting. Start by cleaning the plastic parts with mild soap and water to remove any dirt from the surface. Once they’re clean, fully dry them.
Then, use sandpaper to remove the old paint. Test out different sandpaper grits to determine which works best for your parts. You can move gradually from a coarse sandpaper to something finer to finish the part. Once you finish sanding down the plastic part, make sure all the dust is removed from the component.
Unless you know exactly what type of plastic the part is made of—polyurethane, polycarbonate, fiberglass, etc.—sandpaper is a safer option than a paint stripper. Paint strippers are corrosive and could damage the plastic.
3. Prime the Part
You’ll want to use a high-build, sandable primer on your bike’s plastic parts. This will help cover any blemishes on the surface. Apply the primer in a steady, back-and-forth motion, slightly overlapping each spray. When using spray primer, make sure you keep the can the same distance from the part as you move around it.
If you need to apply multiple coats of paint, be sure to wait 10 to 15 minutes between applications. Remember to shake the can as you’re spraying to keep the primer mixed. Once your priming is complete, wait at least one hour to let the part dry before moving on to the next step.
4. Paint the Part
When you’re choosing a paint, make sure that it is specifically intended for plastic automotive parts. Plastic pieces need to flex, and plastic automotive paint contains chemical agents that allow the paint to flex with the part it’s applied to.
Before you start, make sure that the top of the aerosol can is free of any dust or debris that could cause an uneven spray onto your plastic parts. It can be helpful to do a test spray first on a piece of paper or your plastic cover first.
You can generally apply the same application method you did with primer when it’s time to paint. Again, if you need to apply multiple coats, wait at least 10 to 15 minutes between applications. Be sure to carefully read the instructions on the paint can for any guidance during this process.
5. Finish and Reassemble
Depending on the part you’re painting, you may want to apply a finisher and/or clear coat of paint to the plastic part. However, this is not an essential step, so it’s entirely up to you. Once you’re done painting and finishing, we recommend waiting at least 24 hours before reassembling the part and installing it back into your motorcycle.
Customizing your bike doesn’t have to mean a trip to a body shop. With a few cans of spray paint and some prep work, you can add a touch of your personal style and really stand out when you’re on the road. Before you paint, find your perfect bike by browsing the nationwide inventory of new and used motorcycles for sale on CycleTrader.com.
Arielle Patterson
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